Arthur edwin hart



(No M odel'.) IA. El SHAFT'TUG.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR EDWIN I-IART, oF BROKEN HILL, NEW SOUTH WALES.

sHAFTTuG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 531,529, dated December 25, 1894.

Application filed October 25,1893- Serial No. 489.151-4 (N0 mOBL) To alZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR EDWIN HART, saddler, a subject of the Queen of` Great Britain, and a resident of BrokenHill, in the Colony of New South Wales, have invented an Improved Shaft-Tug, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is designed to provide an improved shaft tug for spring drays and other vehicles. It is well known that the shaft tugs as heretofore manufactured. and used are liable in wear to lose their original shape and grip the shaft, and so wear away both the tug and the shaft. In addition to this the stitches which hold the several parts together are in contact withl the shaft, and are gradually worn through by the. constant rubbing;

In the manufacture of tugs according to my invention these disadvantages are overcome. A tug body is formed of one outside lpiece of leather joined and stitched externally, and packed internally with scrap leather, the stitches and joints being so placed and formed that they are not exposed on the wearing surface. l The tug body is connected tothe buckle by a/strap and it is stidened by metal plates, the buckle being so hinged and secured that the tug retains its shape' and the buckle is held securely. In fact a tug both more ornamental and more durable than those at present in use is supplied, without extra cost.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will now describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawings which are about half size and in which the same letters indicate like parts in all the figures.

Figure lis a view of myvimproved shaft` tug as it would appear on the shaft looking from the shaft end, showing the buckle C and the strap loop II, but the back band is not shown. Fig. 2 is a view of the tug and buckle Without the strap, as theywould appear look# ing from the side of the dray. Fig. 3 is a sec` variations for diderent vehicles. It is so formed that the lace and joint A and A2, in Fig. 4f, will be on the outside and the ends will meet at the top as shown at A3. The space B inside this body is tightly packed with scrap leather, and the joint A2 is drawn well together by meansrof the leather iace A. The scrap leather packing is inserted in layers in' the space B within the body A before it is folded over and drawn together, but I have not shown the packing in the drawings as it might tend to confuse.

When the body has been formed as before described, the buckle C is placed on the top, and a black harness leather cover D is placed right round the body A, one end overlapping at the top, thus forming two plies of leather over the hinge bar C of the buckle C. The leather cover D is skived at the ends and edges to give a symmetrical and finished appearance. This leather cover serves the double purpose, first of securing and holding the buckle (Land second, of hiding thejoint of the tug body.

In order to still further secure the buckle, a metal strap E is provided which [its over the hinge bar O of the buckle. This metal strap E together with the two ends of the leather cover D are secured and riveted to the body A by copper or other suitable metal rivets E E2.

Mountings G, G of malleable iron, brass, nickle, silver plated or other metal are placed one on each side of the tug. They are connected and fastened by means of rivets G2, G3, G4, G5 passing through the body of the tug from side to side, and a loop H is provided to carry the strap, such loop being fastened by the rivets H I-I2 to the mountings G, G.

The tongue C2V of the buckle is C hinged to the top bar Csinstead of to the bottom bar C'.

By the construction of the tug in this manner, it has the following advantages, besides those before mentionedz' The tongue 0f the buckle being hinged at the top considerably facilitates the fastening and unfastening of the back band, which does not by this plan require to be bent in the operation. It also prevents the tongue from protruding and oscillating as it does ina tug constructed in the ordinary way, as it is held underneath the back band and thus great saving in wear and tear is eected. The hinging the tongue of the buckle at the top also saves the necessity of weakening the leather holding the bottom bar of the buckle, as the cutting of a slot therein for the purpose of fixing the tongue is obviated.

Having now described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The improved flexible shaft tug havinga body composed of a leather piece formed into a tube of oval shape, the edges of said piece being approximated on the outer side of the tube, a iexible filling for the latter, and a cover strap applied over the edges of the leather pieces and extending around the tube and secured thereto on its upper side, as shown and described.

2. The improved shaft tug formed of a hollow or tubular body filled with scrap leather, anged metal rings or mountings applied to the sides of said body and transverse rivets connecting and securing said parts together, as shown and described.

3. The improved shaft tug composed of a hollow leather body, a filling therefor, a leather cover extending around the same, a metal strap riveted to such body and cover, and a buckle whose loop is secured beneath said cover and strap, and provided with a tongue hinged to the upper or free end of the buckle loop, as shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR ED WIN HART.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM ROSTER CHILMAN, ARTHUR FRANK ABBOTT. 

